Stage Rights Bloghttp://www.stagerights.com/blog/en-usWed, 09 May 2018 19:43:00 +0000Featured Musical of the Week: Are We There Yet?http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/05/09/featured-musical-week-are-we-there-yet/<embed alt="Are We There Yet? Logo" embedtype="image" format="fullwidth" id="3086"/><p><br/></p><p><em>Are We There Yet?</em><span> is a roller coaster ride through the lives of modern American families. This merry musical romp includes everything from hysterical family car trips and mothers praying for hits at their sons’ baseball games, to fathers sitting through ballet lessons and the joy of sex after 60. This lively musical portrays the love and challenges of the old adage, “You can pick your friends but you can’t pick your family.” One thing is for sure, you will definitely relate to this family musical and enjoy the ride!</span></p><p><span><br/></span><strong><span><span>by James Hindman, Ray Roderick, Cheryl Stern<br/></span></span></strong><strong><span><span>Music by John Glaudini<br/></span></span></strong><strong><span><span>2F, 2M, Flexible | 2 hours</span></span></strong></p><p><strong><span><span><br/></span></span></strong></p><hr/><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: Cabin-Regular; font-size: 16px; direction: ltr;"><span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: Cabin-Regular; font-size: 16px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: Cabin-Regular; font-size: 16px;">Subscribers to the Stage Rights Mailing List received a free perusal download of the <i>Are We There Yet?</i> script. If you would like to be eligible for free downloads of future Plays and Musicals of the Week and to be kept informed of other Stage Rights news, subscribe to our newsletter <a href="http://stagerights.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c8c2d1f69971c5c5cb74a3dbb&amp;id=eb77d1aec5" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(101, 171, 208);" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>Wed, 09 May 2018 19:43:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/05/09/featured-musical-week-are-we-there-yet/Featured Play of the Week: A Breath of Dusty Airhttp://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/05/01/featured-play-week-breath-dusty-air/<p><span><span><embed alt="A Breath of Dusty Air Logo" embedtype="image" format="fullwidth" id="3084"/><br/></span></span></p><p><span><span><br/></span></span></p><p><span><span>Former beauty queen Ima Jean Walker has returned home after twenty years to win a local talent contest which she is sure is the necessary springboard to jump-start her long-delayed career in country music. Her brilliant plan is thwarted when her high school rival appears on the scene to threaten her dreams of stardom and steal the spotlight. Sparks fly, claws come out, and southern charm is tossed out the window as jealousy and greed take center stage in this diva-filled southern comedy. <em>A Breath of Dusty Air</em> is a humorous yet touching story that reminds us some feuds die hard.</span></span></p><p><span><span><strong>by Perry Steele Patton<br/>3F, 2M | 2 Hours</strong></span></span><span><span><br/></span></span></p><p><span><span><strong><br/></strong></span></span></p><hr/><p>Subscribers to the Stage Rights Mailing List received a free perusal download of <i>A Breath of Dusty Air</i>. If you would like to be eligible for free downloads of future Plays and Musicals of the Week and to be kept informed of other Stage Rights news, subscribe to our newsletter <a href="http://stagerights.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c8c2d1f69971c5c5cb74a3dbb&amp;id=eb77d1aec5" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(101, 171, 208); font-family: Cabin-Regular; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br/></p>Tue, 01 May 2018 17:10:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/05/01/featured-play-week-breath-dusty-air/The winner of the SETC/Stage Rights Ready to Publish Award is J. Harvey Stone for his play 'Anthropology Lesson'.http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/04/20/winner-setcstage-rights-ready-publish-award-j-harvey-stone-his-play-anthropology-lesson/<embed alt="J. Harvey Stone" embedtype="image" format="fullwidth" id="3083"/><p><br/></p><p>Drawing from his background as a theater educator, director, and playwright residing in Williamsburg, VA; J. Harvey Stone's drama, <b><i>Anthropology</i></b> <i><b>Lesson</b></i><em>, </em>begins in a classroom and tells the story of two men hiding their truth from their small Appalachian town at the same time the gay rights movement begins in earnest at the Stonewall Riots in New York's Greenwich Village. <br/><br/></p><p>The classroom serves as both framing device and Greek Chorus as Thomas, a clerk at a coal mine and Douglas, an English teacher on break during the summer of 1969, take in Luke, a young man having trouble at home. Suspicions arise and rumors spread tearing their lives apart. <b><i>Anthropology Lesson</i></b> explores and dissects both a relationship and a country where tolerance, love, and acceptance are not always spread equally.</p><br/>Mr. Stone's lovely new work will have a reading at 2019's Southeastern Theatre Conference in Knoxville, TN and Anthropology Lesson will become a part of the Stage Rights catalog. More announcements about <b><i>Anthropology Lesson</i></b> will be made in the weeks and months ahead. <br/><p></p>Fri, 20 Apr 2018 15:00:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/04/20/winner-setcstage-rights-ready-publish-award-j-harvey-stone-his-play-anthropology-lesson/Featured Musical of the Week: The Bikinishttp://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/04/09/featured-musical-week-bikinis/<p><span><span><span><embed alt="Bikinis Logo" embedtype="image" format="fullwidth" id="2996"/><br/></span></span></span></p><p></p><p style="direction: ltr;"><span><br/></span></p><p style="direction: ltr;"><span>It’s the new millennium and the girl group that everyone loves is bringing back the sun, fun, and all the great songs they sang down on the boardwalk at the Jersey Shore... all to raise money for the good folks at Sandy Shores RV Resort. In front of a live audience, The Bikinis relive their heyday and beyond, beginning in the summer of ’64 when the group got their name winning the Belmar Beach Talent Contest in their bikinis! Featuring hits like “Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,” “Under The Boardwalk,” “These Boots Were Made For Walkin’,” “It’s Raining Men,” and many more, </span><em>The Bikinis</em><span> is a nonstop celebration that promises to get audiences dancing in the aisles!</span></p><p style="direction: ltr;"><span><br/></span></p><p></p><h5></h5><h4><strong>by Ray Roderick and James Hindman<br/></strong><strong><strong>Musical Arrangements by Joe Baker<br/></strong></strong><strong>Additional music and lyrics by Joe Baker and Ray Roderick<br/></strong><strong>4F | 1hr 50 mins</strong></h4><hr/><p style="direction: ltr;"><strong></strong></p><p></p><p><span>Subscribers to the Stage Rights Mailing List received a free perusal download of The Bikinis script. If you would like to be eligible for free downloads of future Plays and Musicals of the Week and to be kept informed of other Stage Rights news, subscribe to our newsletter</span><span> </span> <a href="http://stagerights.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c8c2d1f69971c5c5cb74a3dbb&amp;id=eb77d1aec5">HERE</a>.</p>Mon, 09 Apr 2018 16:00:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/04/09/featured-musical-week-bikinis/“One Bullet Can Hit a Lot of Targets" : The Sharp and Fragile Story of "The Bottle Tree."http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/03/26/one-bullet-can-hit-lot-targets-sharp-and-fragile-story-bottle-tree/<p><b>Stage Right's Play of the Week <i><a id="267" linktype="page">The Bottle Tree</a></i> is an honest and powerful look at the aftermath of gun violence. Playwright Beth Kander writes about its path from the headlines to the page and ultimately the stage. Read her thoughts below:</b></p><hr/><p class="MsoNormal">I rarely remember the exact moment I begin writing a play or
novel. If you asked me to pinpoint the precise date I started scratching out a
particular project, most of the time I’d shrug: “No idea.” But there’s one play
for which I do know the inception date.</p><p class="MsoNormal">That play is <a href="https://www.stagerights.com/allshows/bottle-tree/"><i><b>The Bottle Tree</b></i></a><i>,</i> and
the day I started writing it was Friday, December 14, 2012—the day of the
tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Bottle Tre</i>e is
about the little sister of a school shooter, but really it’s about a community.
It’s about how one tragedy can impact many people, for many years. More than
that, it’s about how a collection of tragedies is impacting us all as
Americans, and how we might deal with all this trauma, together.</p><p class="MsoNormal">When I heard the news about Sandy Hook, something in me
shattered. Hearing the number of victims, how many were kindergarteners, and all
the gut-wrenching details—the quickly-emerging stories of heroic teachers acting
to save their students, and of parents returning home to stockings hung by the
fireplace and menorahs perched on tables, waiting for five-year-olds who would
not be there for the holidays that year—it was too much. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Questions screamed through my mind: <i>Who could do that to children? Why did things like this keep happening
in our country? What the hell can we do about it?</i></p><p class="MsoNormal">I had no answer to any of those questions. But I knew I had
to be part of wrestling with that last one, and as a writer, one of the things
I felt I could contribute was a script unafraid to look right at this issue.</p><p class="MsoNormal">There were several thoughts swirling through my mind when I
began writing the play. </p><p class="MsoNormal">I wanted the script to be the start of a conversation, not
the end of one—so I had to push myself to write something that wouldn’t
alienate people on “the other side of the aisle.” </p><p class="MsoNormal">I didn’t want the play to sensationalize violence or glorify
the gunman, and it was important to me to explore not just the moment of
tragedy but the fact that for families impacted by such a devastating loss
would be dealing with it for years—so I decided to set the play several years
after the fictional shooting. </p><p class="MsoNormal">And I didn’t want it to be purely bleak. I needed there to
be laughter, and love, and some element of hope, while not minimizing the
gravity of this epidemic—so I had my work cut out for me.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I wrote the first draft of the play quickly. Among my first
readers were teachers, and a friend whose high school experienced a school
shooting. Their feedback was invaluable. I moved from Mississippi to Chicago in
early 2014, and applied for a playwriting residency at <a href="https://www.stagelefttheatre.com/"><b>Stage Left Theatre</b></a>. Over the course
of the next two years, through the Downstage Left Residency, the Leapfest summer
series, and all the way to full production, the Stage Left team helped this
script to grow. Director Amy Szerlong and dramaturg Annaliese McSweeney’s insights
sharpened my edits. The brilliant actors in the two workshop readings and the
world premiere production breathed life into the characters, helping ensure
they were fully formed.</p><p class="MsoNormal">And at every stage of the development process of this play,
there were more mass shootings. <span> </span><span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">One example: In 2015, <i>The
Bottle Tree </i>was a winner of the <a href="http://www.ashlandnewplays.org/"><b>Ashland
New Plays Festival</b>.</a> I was so excited to travel to Oregon for the event—and
the week before, there was a shooting at nearby Umpqua Community College. After
the second reading, an audience member mentioned having been on campus during
the Umpqua shooting just days earlier. I feared the play may have offended or
hurt this audience member… instead, they thanked me for writing it.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Focusing on this issue is something we’re compelled to do,
right here, right now, and for the foreseeable future. I wish that this play,
which I started writing more than five years ago now, was starting to feel “dated.”
I wish the topic felt less urgent. However,<b> <a href="https://www.teenvogue.com/story/gun-violence-at-us-schools-since-sandy-hook">in
the USA there have been almost 300 incidents of gun violence, in schools alone,
since the Sandy Hook massacre</a></b>. So, much to my heartbreak, this script is
not irrelevant. It’s still topical. Urgent. A conversation we cannot avoid. </p><p class="MsoNormal">But here’s where a little hope comes in, too.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I’m writing this blog right after participating in the<b> <a href="https://marchforourlives.com/">March For Our Lives</a></b>. The students at
Parkland and across America who are raising their voices in this conversation
are inspiring, strong, and not backing down. The schools and theaters that have
produced <i>The Bottle Tree</i> have shared
heartwarming stories ranging from events and talkbacks leading to significant
dialog all the way to survivors of shootings attending performances or engaging
with the script and finding reflective, relevant truths in the play.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The time is overdue for us to address in a meaningful way
not only school shootings, but gun violence in general. Living in Mississippi opened
my eyes to the realities of “proud gun owners” who need to be part of any
genuinely meaningful conversation; living in Chicago cemented the tragic truths
not only about the dramatic tragedy of school shootings but the exhausting,
ongoing daily incidences of gun violence, disproportionately devastating
communities of color.</p><p class="MsoNormal">A play can’t solve a problem. But it can continue a
conversation, change a mind, open a heart, and help us collectively process our
problems. That’s what I hope <i>The Bottle
Tree</i> will continue to do, for now, as an artistic tool to help us move
forward… </p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">…and I hope that in the not too distant future, it will
become something else entirely: A piece performed not as an urgent discussion
of an ongoing social issue, but produced instead as a dated but heartfelt play
shedding light on the dark truth of how things used to be.</p><hr/><span><span><span><embed alt="Beth Kander Photo" embedtype="image" format="left" id="2990"/></span></span></span><p><span><br/></span></p><p><span>Beth Kander</span> is a writer, performer, and consultant with one foot in the South and the other in the Midwest. Her dystopian trilogy <i><span>Original Syn </span></i>debuts in 2018 (Owl House Books), with the first book in the series hitting shelves and e-readers in September. Her other works of fiction include several short stories, some delightful novels pending publication, the novel <i>Was (</i>Available on Amazon) and the children's book <i>Glubbery Gray: The Knight Eating Beast</i> (Pelican Publishing). Her other titles published by Stage Rights include <a id="21" linktype="page"><b>Running Mates (Or, The Family Party)</b></a>, <a id="19" linktype="page"><b>Scrambled</b></a>, and <a id="17" linktype="page"><b>See Jane Quit</b></a>. </p><hr/><p><b>Subscribers to the Stage Rights Mailing List received a free perusal download of The Bottle Tree script. If you would like to be eligible for free downloads of future Plays of the Week and to be kept informed of other Stage Rights news, subscribe to our newsletter <a href="http://stagerights.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c8c2d1f69971c5c5cb74a3dbb&amp;id=eb77d1aec5">HERE</a>. </b></p>Mon, 26 Mar 2018 19:07:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/03/26/one-bullet-can-hit-lot-targets-sharp-and-fragile-story-bottle-tree/Featured Play of the Week: Tales of Tinseltownhttp://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/03/20/featured-play-week-tales-tinseltown/<p><span><a id="87" linktype="page"><embed alt="Tales of Tinseltown Logo" embedtype="image" format="fullwidth" id="2988"/></a><br/></span></p><p><span><br/></span></p><p><span>Hooray for Hollywood in this high-octane musical satire. The bright lights of Hollywood are a long way from Iowa where Ellie Ash aspires to become a star. In the right place at the right time, she jumps aboard aspiring screenwriter Elmo Green’s bike and they’re off to Hollywood, where Ellie is discovered as America’s Next Sweetheart. She soon uncovers the high price of fame and must determine if she’s willing to sacrifice everything for Hollywood stardom. With a star-studded cast album featuring Tony Award darlings Tony Yazbeck and Harriet Harris, YouTube sensation Christina Bianco, and many other notable names, </span><em>Tales of Tinseltown</em><span> unlocks the underbelly of America’s obsession with fame and fortune.</span></p><p><span><br/></span></p><p><b>Book and Lyrics by Michael Colby, <span>Music by Paul Katz</span></b></p><p><b>Cast Size: 4F, 4M | Run Time: 2hrs 30mins</b></p><p><br/></p><p>Click <a href="http://stagerights.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c8c2d1f69971c5c5cb74a3dbb&amp;id=eb77d1aec5"><b>HERE</b></a> to sign up for the Stage Rights mailing list and be eligible to download free perusals of the Featured Play of the Week! </p><p><br/></p>Tue, 20 Mar 2018 22:13:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/03/20/featured-play-week-tales-tinseltown/Sara Bareilles Looks to Star in 'Alice in Wonderland' Musicalhttp://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/03/18/sara-bareilles-looks-star-alice-wonderland-musical/<p><span>This just might
be the news of the day! Broadway.com has learned exclusively that Sara
Bareilles, songwriter and recent star of </span><i><span>Waitress</span></i><span>,
has eyes on starring in Tony winner Duncan Sheik's </span><span>previously reported<span> stage
adaptation of </span><i>Alice in Wonderland. Waitress</i> book writer Jessie Nelson and Sheik's <i>Spring Awakening</i> co-writer Steven Sater are also at work on the new
musical.</span><br/></p><p><br/></p><p><embed alt="Alice In Wonderland" embedtype="image" format="left" id="2987"/><br/></p><p><br/></p><p><br/></p><p><br/></p><p><br/></p><p><br/></p><p><i><span>Sara Bareilles, Steven Sater, Jessie Nelson &amp; Duncan Sheik</span><br/><span>(Photos: Emilio Madrid-Kuser &amp; Caitlin McNaney)</span></i><br/></p><p><span><br/></span></p><p><span>“Duncan Sheik, Steven
Sater and Jessie Nelson are collaborating on a new musical inspired by </span><i>Alice in Wonderland</i>," Bareilles told Broadway.com exclusively. "I am a
huge fan of all of theirs and hopeful my schedule will allow me to perform in
the new musical as things evolve! Lots of moving parts for me, but I will keep
everyone posted!"<span><br/>
<br/></span><span>Click <a href="https://www.broadway.com/buzz/191510/exclusive-sara-bareilles-looks-to-star-in-alice-in-wonderland-musical/">here</a> for the <a href="http://broadway.com">Broadway.com</a> article published by Andy Lefkowitz on March 15, 2018.</span></p>Sun, 18 Mar 2018 22:20:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/03/18/sara-bareilles-looks-star-alice-wonderland-musical/Lee Pace Is Barnstorming Back to Broadway with the First Revival of 'Angels In America'http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/03/13/lee-pace-barnstorming-back-broadway-first-revival-angels-america/<p class="article-paragraph" style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; word-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(45, 45, 41); font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", times, serif; font-size: 17px;'>For a little while, Lee Pace lived in the house that YouTube built. Eight years ago, the actor, now 38, bought some land in upstate New York determined to build a home with his own hands. “I kind of found myself YouTubing, ‘How do I build that soffit,’ or, ‘How do I take that measurement accurately,’” he said of his crash course in construction. “I learned a lot.”</p><p class="article-paragraph" style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; word-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(45, 45, 41); font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", times, serif; font-size: 17px;'>He finished the house but, no matter what all of the millennials in your life who have once unclogged a toilet will tell you, not every craft can truly be mastered via YouTube alone. “It was very kind of incomplete in a lot of ways,” Pace said of his project. “So I bought my neighbor's house, it was a farm and much bigger. I still have the house that I built, but I have a much more comfortable house, so I switched."</p><p class="article-paragraph" style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; word-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(45, 45, 41); font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", times, serif; font-size: 17px;'><embed alt="Lee Pace" embedtype="image" format="left" id="2986"/><br/></p><p class="article-paragraph" style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; word-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(45, 45, 41); font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", times, serif; font-size: 17px;'><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p class="article-paragraph" style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; word-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(45, 45, 41); font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", times, serif; font-size: 17px;'><br/></p><p class="article-paragraph" style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; word-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(45, 45, 41); font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", times, serif; font-size: 17px;'><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p class="article-paragraph" style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; word-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(45, 45, 41); font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", times, serif; font-size: 17px;'><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p class="article-paragraph" style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; word-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(45, 45, 41); font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", times, serif; font-size: 17px;'><span><i>(Photo by Eric Chakeen for W Magazine. Styled by Ian Bradley.)</i></span><br/></p><p class="article-paragraph" style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; word-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(45, 45, 41); font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", times, serif; font-size: 17px;'>That is how Pace wound up being the owner of a farm on a 110-acre patch upstate. (He wouldn't say exactly where, disappointing his superfans and real estate speculators alike.) But the farm played a very active part in Pace's preparation for his latest role, as Joe Pitt in the Tony Kushner masterpiece <i>Angels In America</i>, which is having its first Broadway revival since the original run opened a quarter century ago. Pace said that he kept a copy of the incredibly verbose, six-plus-hour play staged in two parts around the house; he would mull over passages as he went about his cooking, gardening, chopping wood, and the other niceties of country living.<br/></p><p class="article-paragraph" style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; word-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(45, 45, 41); font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", times, serif; font-size: 17px;'>Click <a href="https://www.wmagazine.com/story/lee-pace-angels-in-america-broadway-revival">here</a> for the full article published on <a href="http://wmagazine.com">WMagazine.com</a> by Brian Moylan on February 28, 2018.</p>Tue, 13 Mar 2018 20:03:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/03/13/lee-pace-barnstorming-back-broadway-first-revival-angels-america/Women Bid To Buy Haymarket Theatre As A Female-Led ArtsSpacehttp://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/03/09/women-bid-buy-haymarket-theatre-female-led-arts-space/<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><span>Group seeks £3m to buy
historic West End venue</span>.</p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><br/></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><br/></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><span> <embed alt="Theatre Royal Haymarket" embedtype="image" format="left" id="2984"/></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><br/></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><i><span>The Bossy collective is fundraising to buy the Theatre Royal Haymarket. (Photograph:
Damian Crook</span>)</i></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><span> </span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><span>A group of women from the world of the performing arts has
launched a campaign to buy a West End theatre with the aim of making
it a venue that showcases female-led work.<span></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%;background:white"><span><br/></span></p>
<p style="line-height:115%;background:white"><span>The Bossy
collective are behind a 15,000-member Facebook group set up in 2016 as a
supportive space for women in the creative industries. Now, in the wake of the
#MeToo movement and continuing allegations of sexual misconduct in the creative
and other industries, the group, has founded a campaign to buy the
Theatre Royal Haymarket.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 115%; background: white; margin: 1rem; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"><span>The lease for the theatre, venue for many major plays including
Oscar Wilde premieres, went on sale last month. The asking price is not
public but the Bossy GoFundMe target is set at £3m. By Saturday it had raised
£7,561 from 384 donors.</span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; background: white; margin: 1rem; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"><span>Click <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/feb/10/bossy-women-fund-to-buy-haymarket-theatre">here</a> for the full article published on <a href="http://theguardian.com">TheGuardian.com</a> by Elle Ayres on February 10, 2018.</span></p>Fri, 09 Mar 2018 01:07:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/03/09/women-bid-buy-haymarket-theatre-female-led-arts-space/Ben Platt Lands First Film Lead Post ‘Dear Evan Hansen’http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/03/06/ben-platt-lands-first-film-lead-post-dear-evan-hansen/<p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:
0in;background:white"><span>Following his Tony award-winning performance in the Broadway hit <i>Dear Evan Hansen</i>, Ben Platt has
found his next feature film, signing on to star in Black Label Media’s <i>Love &amp; Oatmeal</i>.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; background: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><span><embed alt="Ben Platt" embedtype="image" format="left" id="2983"/></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; background: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; background: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; background: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; background: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; background: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; background: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; background: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; background: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; background: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><i><span>(CREDIT:
MATT BARON/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK)</span></i><span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; background: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><i><span>Camp X-Ray</span></i><span> director Peter Sattler is
helming the project with Steve Waverly penning the script. Black Label Media’s
Molly Smith, Rachel Smith, Thad Luckinbill, and Trent Luckinbill are producing
along with Trina Wyatt, while BLM’s Jon Schumacher will executive produce.</span></p><p style='box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Graphik Web", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'>
</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; background: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><span>The story
centers on Scott, a twenty-something aspiring writer who, in the wake of his
father’s sudden death, sees his dream of moving to Paris put in jeopardy when
he is forced to temporarily take in his wildly unpredictable, mentally ill sister.
They are eyeing a start of production early summer.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; background: white; box-sizing: inherit;"><span>Click <a href="http://variety.com/2018/film/news/dear-evan-hansen-ben-platt-to-star-in-black-labels-love-oatmeal-exclusive-1202714384/">here</a> for the full article published on <a href="http://variety.com">Variety.com</a> by Justin Kroll on March 1, 2018.</span></p>Tue, 06 Mar 2018 00:36:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/03/06/ben-platt-lands-first-film-lead-post-dear-evan-hansen/Inside the 'Frozen' dress rehearsal: Broadway's new musical prepares to lift the curtainhttp://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/03/03/inside-frozen-dress-rehearsal-broadways-new-musical-prepares-lift-curtain/<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:200%;background:white"><i><span>Frozen</span></i><span> co-creator Jennifer Lee and her boyfriend, Alfred
Molina, sit toward the front of the historic St. James Theatre late Tuesday
afternoon for a special dress rehearsal of the new Broadway musical.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:200%;background:white"><span><br/></span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:200%;background:white"><span>The production has
invited industry people — mostly cast and crew of other Broadway shows,
including Disney Theatricals' </span><i>The Lion
King</i><span> and </span><i>Aladdin</i><span> — to a sneak
peek of the upcoming show just two days before the first public preview.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:200%;background:white"><span><embed alt="St. James Theatre" embedtype="image" format="right" id="2981"/><br/></span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:200%;background:white"><span><i>An industry audience lines up for a special run-through of "Frozen" at the St. James Theatre in New York on Tuesday. (Jessica Gelt)</i></span><br/></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:200%;background:white"><span><br/></span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:200%;background:white"><span>Lee, who wrote the book for <i>Frozen</i> in close collaboration with songwriters Robert Lopez and
Kristen Anderson-Lopez, clutches a pen and a notebook. The team is still
reworking the opening number, she says, so she'll be taking notes.</span></p><p style="line-height:115%;background:white">
</p><p style="line-height:200%;background:white"><span>"We ran out of time in rehearsal," she says,
smiling and confessing that she has more nerves than she thought she would for
this show. That's despite the fact that this type of industry rehearsal — known
by the terribly politically incorrect term "gypsy run" — always has
warm and responsive crowds. This packed, whooping and hollering house is no
exception.</span><span></span></p><p style="line-height:200%;background:white"><span>Click <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-frozen-musical-broadway-preview-20180222-story.html">here</a> for the full article published on <a href="http://latimes.com">LATimes.com</a> by Jessica Gelt on February 21, 2018.</span></p>Sat, 03 Mar 2018 19:05:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/03/03/inside-frozen-dress-rehearsal-broadways-new-musical-prepares-lift-curtain/Finding The American Voice: How Arena Stage Is Shaking Up Broadwayhttp://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/28/finding-american-voice-how-arena-stage-shaking-broadway/<p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:
0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><span>After a huge
renovation a few years ago, Arena Stage in Southwest D.C. has ambitious plans
for the future.</span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:
0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><span><embed alt="Arena Stage" embedtype="image" format="left" id="2979"/><br/></span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:
0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><span><br/></span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:
0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><span><br/></span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:
0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><span><br/></span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:
0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><span><br/></span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:
0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><span><br/></span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:
0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><span><br/></span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:
0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><span><br/></span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:
0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><span><br/></span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:
0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><span><br/></span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:
0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><span><br/></span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:
0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><span><br/></span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:
0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><br/></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:
0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:white"><span>WASHINGTON, DC — There's
absolutely no mistaking that building on the corner of Maine and Sixth streets
in </span><span>Southwest D.C. And some very big things could be
coming out of it in the coming years. Arena Stage certainly didn't look
impressive when it first opened in 1950. Even 10 years ago it would be totally
unrecognizable compared today, thanks to a massive $135 million renovation
undertaken from 2008 until 2010.</span><br/></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; line-height: 22.5pt; background: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span>Arena Stage's two theaters, the Fichandler Stage and
Kreeger Theater, were left standing, but everything else was demolished. A huge
structure was put up over top of those theaters, and a third theater — the
Kogod Cradle — was added.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; line-height: 22.5pt; background: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span>Even with the sudden explosion of brand new buildings
along the Wharf right across the street, Arena Stage's architecture is
unmistakable. Massive wooden beams hold aloft a gently curving roof, and an
all-glass facade makes it almost like a museum display case, showcasing the
original theaters as they once were decades ago.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; line-height: 22.5pt; background: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span><embed alt="Kogod Cradle" embedtype="image" format="right" id="2980"/></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:
0in;line-height:22.5pt;background:white"><span>Walking into the
lobby of this unique building when there isn't a show going on is almost like
walking into a cathedral: a dignified quiet envelops you as you take in the
enormous space and the long, circular ramps that lead to its individual
theaters. The goal in designing Arena Stage was to create a sense of intimacy.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; line-height: 22.5pt; background: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span>And you certainly get that sense when you walk into
the theaters themselves. There aren't a lot of seats, so it's impossible to get
a bad view. Even the largest stage, Fichandler, has just 680 seats. And the
smallest, the new Kogod Cradle, has only 200 seats. The leadership of Arena
Stage has no interest in massive, sprawling amphitheaters.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; line-height: 22.5pt; background: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span>Click <a href="https://patch.com/district-columbia/washingtondc/finding-american-voice-how-arenastage-shaking-broadway">here</a> for the full article published on <a href="http://patch.com">Patch.com</a> by Dan Taylor on February 26, 2018.</span></p>Wed, 28 Feb 2018 17:26:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/28/finding-american-voice-how-arena-stage-shaking-broadway/Lin-Manuel Miranda, Zendaya, and More Added to Lineup of Oscar Presentershttp://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/26/lin-manuel-miranda-zendaya-and-more-added-lineup-oscar-presenters/<p style="background:white"><span>The Tony winner and Oscar nominee, </span><i>The Greatest Showman </i>star, and eight more names have been added to the list for
the March 4 broadcast.</p><p style="background:white"><span>As the 2018 Oscars draws near, airing March 4 on
ABC, the Academy has named ten additional presenters for the evening.</span></p><p style="background:white"><span><embed alt="Lin-Manuel Miranda &amp; Zendaya" embedtype="image" format="left" id="2978"/><br/></span></p><p style="background:white"><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p style="background:white"><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p style="background:white"><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p style="background:white"><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p style="background:white"><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p style="background:white"><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p style="background:white"><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p style="background:white"><span><i>Lin-Manuel Miranda and Zendaya</i></span><span><br/></span></p><p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 2rem;"><span>Producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd
announced Lin-Manuel Miranda will
be among those presenting during the broadcast. Miranda was nominated for an
Oscar in 2017 for his original song “How Far I’ll Go” from <i>Moana</i>. Of course, he’s best known in the
theatre world for <i>In The
Heights </i>and <i>Hamilton</i>,
but will appear on the silver screen in the upcoming <i>Mary
Poppins Returns</i>.</span></p><p>
</p><p style="background:white"><span>Star of original movie musical </span><i>The Greatest Showman</i> Zendaya has also been announced as a presenter. She is
slated to voice characters in the upcoming animated films <i>Duck Duck Goose </i>and <i>Smallfoot</i>.<span></span></p><p style="background:white">Click <a href="http://www.playbill.com/article/lin-manuel-miranda-zendaya-and-more-added-to-the-lineup-of-oscar-presenters">here</a> for the <a href="http://playbill.com">Playbill.com</a> article published by Ruthie Fierberg on February 21, 2018.</p>Mon, 26 Feb 2018 19:44:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/26/lin-manuel-miranda-zendaya-and-more-added-lineup-oscar-presenters/‘To Wong Foo’ May Be Broadway’s Next Drag Spectacularhttp://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/24/wong-foo-may-be-broadways-next-drag-spectacular/<p></p><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">It’s hard to outfox a movie studio, but Broadway’s Douglas Carter Beane seems to have done just that.</p><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The Tony-nominated playwright has long wanted to turn his 1995 cult movie <i>To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar</i> into a musical.</p><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><embed alt="To Wong Foo" embedtype="image" format="left" id="2977"/><br/></p><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br/></p><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br/></p><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br/></p><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br/></p><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br/></p><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br/></p><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br/></p><p></p><p><span><i>Patrick Swayze starred in the 1995 movie "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar."</i></span><br/></p><p><span><br/></span></p><p></p><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment produced the movie and Universal Studios distributed it. That would usually mean they’d control the destiny of all things <i>To Wong Foo </i>forever.</p><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Except for one little detail.</p><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Back then, before most studios thought about getting into the theater business, Beane asked for the stage rights.</p><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“I think they thought that was endearing,” he says. “‘Isn’t that sweet? He likes to do wood carving, too.’ So they patted me on the head — and gave them to me.”</p><p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Click <a href="https://nypost.com/2018/02/06/to-wong-foo-may-be-broadways-next-drag-spectacular/">here</a> for the full article published on <a href="http://nypost.com">NYPost.com</a> by Michael Riedel on February 6, 2018.</p><p></p>Sat, 24 Feb 2018 17:25:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/24/wong-foo-may-be-broadways-next-drag-spectacular/Stage Rights playwright Mary Queen Donnelly, writes about her contemporary, civil rights pioneer Sister Thea Bowman, and the impetus behind "Thea's Turn."http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/21/stage-rights-playwright-mary-queen-donnelly-writes-about-her-contemporary-civil-rights-pioneer-sister-thea-bowman-and-impetus-behind-theas-turn/<p class="MsoNormal"><br/></p><embed alt="Thea as a child" embedtype="image" format="right" id="2973"/><p><span>Born at the same time in the same small southern town during the same Jim Crow era, the lives of Sister Thea Bowman and I ran as
parallel as the Illinois Central railroad tracks that separated the town. </span></p><p><span><br/></span></p><p><span>She, was baptized Bertha Bowman, a Protestant African American and the only child of
Dr. Theon Bowman and Mary Esther Bowman who lived in the Black local community
of Canton MS. I was baptized a Catholic at the basically White Sacred Heart
Catholic Church as one of six children who lived on the other side of the tracks in the country. My father was a farmer.</span></p><p><br/></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>As unlikely an event as one can imagine, our lives crossed
in 1955 when my parents attended services and became involved in the Holy Child
Jesus community in Canton. At the time, Holy Child Jesus mission was served by
the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration out of La Crosse Wisconsin. When
I first learned of Sister Thea, she had already converted to Catholicism and
joined the all-white religious Congregation in La </span><span>Crosse.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br/></p><p class="MsoNormal">Almost immediately, she became a public figure, first by the
anomaly of being the one and only Southern Black in the basically German
all-white Congregation in the North and then by her extraordinary presence as
an orator, singer, and proponent of multicultural recognition of all cultures
in our American way of life.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br/></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><embed alt="Young Thea" embedtype="image" format="left" id="2974"/></p><p class="MsoNormal">Having moved to New Orleans, I followed her life through my
parents and published articles. By and large, although not well known outside
the Catholic community, she became a recognizable public figure. She obtained
her Ph.D in English Language and Literature at Catholic University of America
after which she was sought after as speaker, lecturer, and presenter by venues
all over the country. She was catapulted into the general public eye in 1987
when she was interviewed by Mike Wallace on <i>60
Minutes</i>. At that time, she was suffering from Stage 4 cancer. Despite her
suffering, Mike Wallace was overcome by her joy, her laughter, her
fearlessness, and her dedication to an unpopular message.<span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><br/></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><br/></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the time, I was a columnist for <i>The Times Picayune</i> in New Orleans and upon hearing of her lectures
at Xavier University for the The Institute of Black Catholic Studies, which she
co-founded, I asked to cover her story. I did not realize what I was in for. I
had heard Thea did not sit for a conventional interview, but I did not know I
should have worn flat shoes. I struggled to keep up as her caretaker rolled her
wheelchair over broken sidewalks at Xavier, as I attended her classes and heard
her break into song in the middle of her point, as I watched her comfort a
seminarian who had just lost his mother with “Sometimes I feel like a
Motherless Child,” as I found myself waving my hands Alleluia at the three-hour
Mass service in the packed auditorium. There were times when she collapsed in
bed, in pain from the cancer that had invaded her bones. Still, she wanted to
go on. I interviewed her for three days.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br/></p><p class="MsoNormal"><embed alt="Thea" embedtype="image" format="right" id="2975"/></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I did not know that on the third and final day, I would
experience the surprise of my life. <span>H</span><span>arry Belafonte and crew arrived to direct a film of her life. I</span><span> </span><span>called the photographer of the paper and said, “Get here.” There is a picture in the</span><span> </span><i>Times</i><span> </span><span>of Harry Belafonte rolling Thea around in a wheel chair emulating what is known as “The Second Line” in New Orleans. Unfortunately, the film never materialized. Thea died on March 30, 1990.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><br/></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">There have been wonderful biographies and articles and art works depicting the life of Thea Bowman. Somehow I felt the need to put her back on stage. Having experienced as a child the sameness and differences in our two cultures and knowing her wonderful parents and her schoolmates at the time, I felt I possessed a unique perspective and understanding of her conflicts and her triumps. Thus, <i>Thea’s Turn.</i><i> </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><br/></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>-Mary Queen Donnelly</span><br/></p><hr/><p class="MsoNormal"><i><embed alt="Mary Queen Donnelly" embedtype="image" format="left" id="2976"/>Mary Queen Donnelly, a contemporary of Sister Thea Bowman, was born and raised in the same hometown: Canton, MS. Their paths crossed on several occasions, but in a significant way in 1988, two years before Sister Thea’s death. Her play, "Thea’s Turn", is taken from her relationship, interviews, and memories of Sister Thea Bowman.<br/></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><b><br/></b></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><b>To buy a perusal or get a license for "Thea's Turn" visit the <a href="https://www.stagerights.com/allshows/theas-turn/">show page</a> at the Stage Rights website. </b></i></p><p></p><p></p>Wed, 21 Feb 2018 19:40:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/21/stage-rights-playwright-mary-queen-donnelly-writes-about-her-contemporary-civil-rights-pioneer-sister-thea-bowman-and-impetus-behind-theas-turn/Backed By Red Sox Chairman, Illusionist Derek DelGaudio Generates Wonder And Profithttp://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/20/backed-red-sox-chairman-illusionist-derek-delgaudio-generates-wonder-and-profit/<p class="speakable-paragraph" style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.6rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'>"The reason anything succeeds, whether it's in television or film or the theater, is that it is original. The vision has to be brilliant and authentic."</p><p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.6rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'>So decrees veteran producer and sports impresario, Tom Werner. Chairman of both the Boston Red Sox and the Liverpool Sports Club, Werner has parlayed this boilerplate soundbite into a singular resume, with TV credits like <em>Mork &amp; Mindy, </em><em>The Cosby Show, Roseanne, 3rd Rock From The Sun, </em>and <em>That 70's Show.</em></p><p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.6rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'>He can now add "magician's assistant" to the list.</p><p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.6rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'><embed alt="Derek DelGaudio &amp; Daniel Radcliffe" embedtype="image" format="left" id="2970"/><br/></p><p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.6rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'><br/></p><p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.6rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'><br/></p><p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.6rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'><br/></p><p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.6rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'><br/></p><p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.6rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'><br/></p><p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.6rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'><br/></p><p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.6rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'><br/></p><p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.6rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'><span><i>Derek DelGaudio and superfan Daniel Radcliffe pose backstage at 'In &amp; Of Itself'. (Photo: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)</i></span><br/></p><p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.6rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'><em>In &amp; Of Itself, </em>written and performed by acclaimed illusionist Derek DelGaudio, has recouped its $850,000 capitalization. This according to Werner, who is producing the Off-Broadway show, alongside Forbes Candlish, Prediction Productions, Glenn Kaino, and known magic aficionado Neil Patrick Harris. They have extended its run for a fourth time, now through August at the Daryl Roth Theater in New York.</p><p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.6rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'>Though Werner is no stranger to showbiz, theater is relatively new territory. He rarely invests in Broadway, alleging its habit of regurgitating stale content.</p><p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.6rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'>As he puts it, "People don't need my money for a revival of <em>My Fair Lady</em>."</p><p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.6rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);'>Click <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/leeseymour/2018/02/13/backed-by-red-sox-chairman-emotional-magic-show-generates-wonder-profit/#50d9ff3526d5">here</a> for the full article published on <a href="http://forbes.com">Forbes.com</a> by Lee Seymour on February 13, 2018.</p>Tue, 20 Feb 2018 23:26:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/20/backed-red-sox-chairman-illusionist-derek-delgaudio-generates-wonder-and-profit/Jeff Daniels to Reunite with Aaron Sorkin for Broadway’s 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' With Celia Keenan-Bolger, Gideon Glick, and Morehttp://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/18/jeff-daniels-reunite-aaron-sorkin-broadways-kill-mockingbird-celia-keenan-bolger-gideon-glick-and-more/<p><span>The Scott Rudin and Lincoln Center Theater production will begin performances in November.</span></p><p><span><embed alt="Cast of To Kill A Mockingbird" embedtype="image" format="left" id="2967"/><br/></span></p><p><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p><span><i>Celia Keenan-Bolger, Will Pullen, and Gideon Glick</i></span><span><br/></span></p><p><span><i><br/></i></span></p><p style="background:white"><i><span>The Newsroom </span></i><span>Emmy winner Jeff Daniels will reunite with Aaron Sorkin as he
headlines the writer’s stage adaptation of Harper Lee's <i>To Kill a Mockingbird. </i>The Bartlett Sher-helmed production, a collaboration between
producer </span><span>Scott Rudin</span><span> and Lincoln Center Theater, will begin
performances November 1 at a theatre to be announced. Opening night is set for
December 13.</span><span></span></p><p style="background:white"><span>Daniels, who takes on the role of
Atticus Finch, returns to Broadway after a Tony-nominated turn in 2016’s </span><i>Blackbird.</i> Joining him are fellow Tony nominee <span>Celia Keenan-Bolger</span><span> (</span><i><span>The Glass Menagerie</span></i><span>, </span><i><span>Peter and the Starcatcher</span></i><span>) as Scout, Will Pullen (</span><i><span>Sweat</span></i><span>) as Jem, and Gideon Glick (</span><i>Significant Other, Spring Awakening</i>) as Dill. The casting of the three—each notably older than
their respective characters—indicates Sorkin’s <span>previously reported</span><span> intentions to present the drama as a
memory play.</span><span></span></p><p style="background:white"><span>Click <a href="http://www.playbill.com/article/jeff-daniels-to-reunite-with-aaron-sorkin-for-broadways-to-kill-a-mockingbird-with-celia-keenan-bolger-gideon-glick-and-more">here</a> for the full <a href="http://playbill.com">Playbill.com</a> article published by Ryan McPhee on February 15, 2018.</span></p>Sun, 18 Feb 2018 21:50:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/18/jeff-daniels-reunite-aaron-sorkin-broadways-kill-mockingbird-celia-keenan-bolger-gideon-glick-and-more/A Barrier Breaks: An Actress With Down Syndrome Plays the Leadhttp://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/15/barrier-breaks-actress-down-syndrome-plays-lead/<p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:
0in;background:white"><span>Near the end of 2015, the playwright Lindsey Ferrentino</span><span class="html-tag"><span><span> </span></span><span>and the actress Jamie Brewer were watching clips of
Donald J. Trump, then a candidate, appearing to mock a reporter</span> with a
physical disability</span><span class="html-tag"><span><span>.</span></span><span> They were horrified — which made their work on a new
play, centered on a character with Down syndrome, all the more significant.</span> </span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:
0in;background:white"><span class="html-tag">“From that point forward, the play took on a new meaning for me,” Ms.
Ferrentino said.</span> </p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:
0in;background:white">“Big time,” Ms. Brewer added. </p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:
0in;background:white">“Watching you
watch that video, seeing your reaction to it, you cried,” Ms. Ferrentino said,
turning to her. </p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:
0in;background:white">“I was emotional,” Ms. Brewer said.</p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:
0in;background:white"><embed alt="Amy &amp; The Orphans" embedtype="image" format="left" id="2964"/><br/></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:
0in;background:white"><br/></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:
0in;background:white"><br/></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span>From left: Ms. Brewer as the play’s title character,
with (in front seat) Vanessa Aspillaga as her caregiver and (in back seat)
Debra Monk and Mark Blum as her siblings.</span> (Credit: Sara Krulwich/The New
York Times)</i></p>
<p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:
0in;background:white"><span><br/></span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:
0in;background:white"><span>The play, “Amy and the Orphans,” which opens March 1
in a Roundabout Theater Company production at the Laura Pels Theater, is a
barrier-breaking show. Ms. Brewer, 33, and her understudy, Edward Barbanell,
40, are thought to be the only known performers with Down syndrome to play the
lead in an Off Broadway or Broadway theater production</span><span>.</span><br/></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:
0in;background:white"></p>
<p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:
0in;background:white"><span>The show is about three siblings who reunite after
their father’s death, and the road trip that follows. Ms. Ferrentino, who
debuted with the critically acclaimed play “Ugly Lies the Bone,” in 2015, was
insistent that the title role be played by someone with the disability, even
leaving a note in an early draft of the script: “Finding a talented actor with
Down syndrome isn’t difficult. So please do it.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:
0in;background:white">Click <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/14/theater/amy-and-the-orphans-down-syndrome-jamie-brewer.html">here</a> for the full article published on <a href="http://nytimes.com">NYTimes.com</a> by Sopan Deb on February 14, 2018.</p>Thu, 15 Feb 2018 21:59:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/15/barrier-breaks-actress-down-syndrome-plays-lead/Tom Hanks Will Be Falstaff Opposite Rita Wilson in Limited Run of 'Henry IV'http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/14/tom-hanks-will-be-falstaff-opposite-rita-wilson-limited-run-henry-iv/<p><span>Daniel Sullivan will direct the summer staging at the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles.</span></p><p><span>The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles will return to The Japanese Garden on the West Los Angeles VA Campus June 5–July 1 with a new production entitled </span><i>Henry IV</i><span>.</span><span><br/></span></p><p style="background:white"><span><embed alt="Daniel Sullivan" embedtype="image" format="left" id="2961"/></span><i><span><br/></span></i></p><p style="background:white"><i><span>Daniel Sullivan (</span><span class="bsp-img-credit" style='box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; color: rgb(104, 104, 104); font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: right; font-family: "Roboto Condensed";'>Joseph Marzullo/WENN)</span></i><span><br/></span></p><p style="background:white"><i><span class="bsp-img-credit" style='box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; color: rgb(104, 104, 104); font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; text-align: right; font-family: "Roboto Condensed";'><br/></span></i></p><p style="background:white"><span>Directed by Tony winner Daniel Sullivan, <i>Henry IV</i> condenses
two of Shakespeare's plays: Sullivan has distilled the exploits of Falstaff and
his ne’er-do-well protégé Prince Hal from <i>Henry
IV Parts One and Two </i>into one evening.</span></p><p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 2rem;"><span>The
cast will be headed by Oscar winner Tom Hanks as Falstaff and Rita Wilson, with additional cast
members to be announced. Tom Ware is the executive producer.</span></p><p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 2rem;"><span>Opening
night is scheduled for July 1.</span></p><p>
</p><p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 2rem;"><span>The
Shakespeare Center, in partnership with West LA VA, has also arranged to set
aside 2,000 tickets for eligible veterans and active members of the military
free of charge.</span></p><p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 2rem;"><span>Click <a href="http://www.playbill.com/article/tom-hanks-will-be-falstaff-opposite-rita-wilson-in-limited-run-of-henry-iv">here</a> for the full <a href="http://playbill.com">Playbill.com</a> article published by Andrew Gans on February 13, 2018.</span></p>Wed, 14 Feb 2018 18:52:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/14/tom-hanks-will-be-falstaff-opposite-rita-wilson-limited-run-henry-iv/Playwrights Lindy Voeltner and Josh Lanzet embrace the failure of dating.http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/13/playwrights-lindy-voeltner-and-josh-lanzet-embrace-failure-dating/<p class="MsoNormal"><br/></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a></a>Valentine’s Day is just around the
corner, and <i>Dating: Adults Embracing
Failure</i> wants to bring a little hope to the singles out there—those of us
who haven’t found their lobster, penguin, fainting goat, or whatever other
animal mates you’re looking to meet.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Online dating (we’re all doing it) means we have the
opportunity to find our potential bae from anywhere in the United States, or
even the world. That’s right, the </span><i>world</i><span>.
In my grandparents’ day, the only way to find your love internationally was
fighting in WW2. There was also the mail order route, but that was before
Amazon Prime free two-day shipping.</span><a href="#_ftn1" style="font-size: 1.2em;"><sup><sup>[1]</sup></sup></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Now that we have the literal dating world at our feet, what
are singles supposed to do?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Panic!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>It’s like the cereal aisle at an American supermarket. There
are too many options! Why can’t it be Russia, where they’re like, “You eat
oatmeal, that’s it! It’s healthy, filling and makes you live longer than you
want to.”</span><a href="#_ftn2" style="font-size: 1.2em;"><sup><sup>[2]</sup></sup></a><span>
Thank heavens we’re not limited to oatmeal, but we are still left to sift
through the multitude of options and find “the perfect match” — whether that
match is steel cut oats, grits, or cream of wheat.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>At DAEF, we put our heads together to find the #1 thing you
need to know to stop wasting time and find success. Are you ready? It’s…</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Nothing. There is no number one rule, or list of five things
that will help you find </span><i>the one</i><span>. If
we knew what that was, you’d see us selling it right after the infomercial for
the Oxy Clean.</span><a href="#_ftn3" style="font-size: 1.2em;"><sup><sup>[3]</sup></sup></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Our job is to keep growing, maturing, and becoming someone
with whom we would like to spend time. The only person we are guaranteed to
spend the rest of our lives with is us, so we had better figure out who that
person is and embrace what we like and change what we don’t.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Despite what movies and stories have told us our entire
lives, life isn’t just about falling in love. Falling in love is a process just
like anything else. There are two options when it comes to relationships: you
commit to each other and continue to commit to each other again and again for
30 or more years, or you break up. Daunting, sure, but it’s true.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Yes, it sucks to watch your friends find the one, get
married, have kids, and constantly post pictures to Instagram about all three.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>But. And it’s a big
but.<sup><a href="#_ftn4"><b><sup>[4]</sup></b></a></sup></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>You are single for a reason. Not because you suck and should
change</span><a href="#_ftn5" style="font-size: 1.2em;"><sup><sup>[5]</sup></sup></a><span>,
but because no one you’ve met has been worth committing to again and again or
they haven’t been willing to commit over and over again to you. That puts them
in the “not worth it” pile, because you deserve the committing over and over
again person.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>So you wait. Grow. Learn. Explore. Take risks. Live the life
you thought you’d be living when you were ten and thought Space Cowboy was a
real job.</span><a href="#_ftn6" style="font-size: 1.2em;"><sup><sup>[6]</sup></sup></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Life is a day at a time, even if one is labeled “Valentine’s
Day.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p><embed alt="Just Chillin' Meme" embedtype="image" format="fullwidth" id="2958"/><br/>
</p><hr/>
<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="#_ftnref1"><sup><sup><span>[1]</span></sup></sup></a><span> We’re not Amazon shills, but a deal is a deal!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="#_ftnref2"><sup><sup><span>[2]</span></sup></sup></a><span> We have no idea if Russia is actually like this, but
we’ve chosen to believe it.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="#_ftnref3"><sup><sup><span>[3]</span></sup></sup></a><span> Again, we’re not shills for Oxy Clean, but have you
tried that on a stain? It’s amazing!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="#_ftnref4"><sup><sup><span>[4]</span></sup></sup></a><span> We like big butts. We cannot and would not lie about
something like that.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="#_ftnref5"><sup><sup><span>[5]</span></sup></sup></a><span> We’re making a big assumption here, so please don’t
be that one person who goes “Ha, I’ll show them! I’m gonna suck!”</span></p>
<p></p>
<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="#_ftnref6"><sup><sup><span>[6]</span></sup></sup></a><span> We still believe that it is and it’s just being kept
under wraps or else everybody would become one.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><br/></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><b>Dating: Adults Embracing Failure</b></i> is available to license <a id="125" linktype="page">here!</a></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>Tue, 13 Feb 2018 17:38:00 +0000http://staging.stagerights.com/blog/2018/02/13/playwrights-lindy-voeltner-and-josh-lanzet-embrace-failure-dating/